Mark Kerckhoff

Art Brokerage: Mark Kerckhoff American Artist: b. 1959. A 6th-generation Californian, Mark was born in Covina in 1959 and studied at California State University Long Beach. Mark considers himself an abstract realist painter. The base of his interest stems from growing up in rural Los Angeles County hiking amongst the Sycamore-lined gullies, the South Hills, and the views of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains. These early childhood memories continue to be a presence in his paintings. Inspired by artists like Hermann Herzog, William Keith, and Thomas Moran, Mark executes paintings that embrace his love of color, high aesthetics and craftsmanship. Mark's favorite quote is by John Ruskin the great Victorian art critic, "All great schools enforce delicacy of drawing and subtlety of sight: as of yet, found without exception respecting art is that all great art is delicate". As Jean Stern, Director of the Irvine Museum says, "I have long admired Mark Kerckhoff for his excellent paintings. They show his superb ability to draw, his solidity of form and perspective, and most of all his unfailing facility with color. His paintings are always characterized by a unique and convincing sense of outdoor light, and like few other artists, he succeeds at producing the true effect of the fluidity of natural light." Some of Mark's many awards are: Glenna Hartmann Invitational, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Artists Choice Award; 2009 Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, Best of Show Award and Artist Choice Award; 2008 Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, Artist Choice Award and Third Place; Plein Air 2003, Sonora Desert Museum, Honorable Mention; Plein Air Painting Competition, Laguna Art Museum, Bronze and Quick Draw Award; and in 2000 Collectors Choice, Art Institute of Southern California. His work can be found in the collections of: Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach; Thunderbird Country Club, Rancho Mirage, CA. Listings wanted.